Current Newsletter - Longmont Buddhist Temple

Fellow Travelers
The monthly newsletter of the Longmont Buddhist Temple
2015 February
Volume 4
Issue 2
Longmont Buddhist Temple/Greeley Shin Sangha Northwest Corner - Pike Road and Main Street, Longmont 80501
Issue Contents
Minister’s Message
Listening to Life
Minister’s Message February Bookstore News - Specials
Nehan-E (Nirvana Day)
Longmont Temple Board Updates
Shin Buddhism Introduction - February Seminar
Rituals for Then and Now - March Seminar Hongwanji-ha - New Monshu
Mountain States Conference 2015
Onenju Making Class Board and Committee Contact Information
February Calendar
Temple Information
by Rev. Carol Ganshō O’Dowd
“Although I have listened only half-heartedly, the
Buddha’s Name calls me, the call seeps into the marrow
of my bones, flows into my bloodstream.” --Join Shirai
What this Buddhist author was commenting on was
how if we listen carefully, Light and Life will flow
through our veins. What I discover is that I so often
rush through the day and even when thinking I might be
dealing with “what is”, I find myself listening, but only
half-heartedly. Most of the time I run around ignoring
the sacred aspects of life and as result forget to listen
to the wonderful calling of the Ultimate. Yet, when we
put out the effort and take the time to open heart-mind,
it is possible to listen carefully. When we are still, then
we hear the calling of Wisdom-Compassion.
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have resisted this loose translation. However, William
Cantwell Smith has a definition of faith that is similar
to Shinran’s. To quote Smith, “faith is deep, rich
and personal. After all it is a practice of living –not
struggling to make it all as we want it to be but living
life as it is – as it is dealt to us.” I find this definition
similar to the description of the practice of entrusting.
When that happens, all I can do is listen with
gratitude. What I have been learning lately is that this
is true even in difficult times. How grateful I am that
after so much study and training, finally I seem to be
connecting with these teachings. How wonderful to
learn that we are touched by Wisdom-Compassion
even when faced with great difficulties. In Christianity,
I think it is referred to as the ‘dark night of the soul.'
In our Shin tradition, it is shared as finding self when
finally forced to let go of self.
Shin Buddhism asks us to practice entrusting no
matter what events unfold around us. As Shin Buddhist
we are asked to live a life of sincere entrusting by living
a life of gratitude in times of joy and sorrow; success
and failure. The arising of shinjin may develop through
the gratitude that arises from entrusting. When we are
grateful, we often experience a quiet confidence and
joy that allows us to feel at home in the universe, and
to find meaning in our own lives – regardless of what
it appears to be. When we listen carefully, the meaning
can be profound, and strange as it may feel, there are
times that we can find peace in the midst of chaos no
matter what is going on in an immediate event.
During difficult times like loss of a loved one, loss of
use of a body part, a good friend, or a job it wakes us
up to what is important in our lives. Shinran, like so
many great spiritual teachers, tells us that when facing
difficulties, we often face into the conventional and
find ourselves being touched by the Ultimate. Flowing
Light and Life that are always present and in each
of us. Shinran talked about how Ultimate Wisdom/
Compassion embraces us all and that we connect more
fully with it when we listen deeply.
That peace is what Shinran shared with others and now
is passed on to us today as the practice of entrusting.
Such entrusting is the practice of listening -- listening
to all that is with gratitude. The term, shinjin, when
written in Chinese, is sometimes translated as trusting
with confidence. What is implied is that when we
entrust, we must trust with confidence. The only way
we trust with deep confidence is when we rely upon
more than intellectual knowledge. We entrust when we
He was frequently asking those he met to listen
deeply by opening their hearts and minds fully to
experience shinjin. Sometimes shinjin is translated
as faith. With the meaning of shinjin being so deep, I
continued on page two
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Fellow Travelers - February 2015
continued from page one
Bookstore Special
‘know’ from the marrow of our bones. When we entrust
with open heart-mind, we can put our life on it. When we
let go and let in Wisdom and Compassion of the Ultimate
Reality of Infinite Light and Life, then we entrust and
how else can we live, but with gratitude. When we entrust
with heart-mind -- all we can say is Namo-Amida-Butsu.
Recent Donations by Meredith Hutmacher
Recent Donations
--Rev. Carol O'Dowd
Mary Mulry, a former member who moved out of the
area, recently gave me a small collection of books to add
to the used book section of our bookstore. I thank her
for her generosity and also encourage everyone to check
out our used book section. It is growing by leaps and
bounds. Like any non-profit organization, our Temple
budget is stretched very thin. For this reason I haven’t
been placing orders for new books or incense. An infusion of ‘new’ used books really helps me to be a good
steward of our budget, and allows our members and
visitors to acquire books at a considerable discount.
In honor of
Nirvana Day,
Sunday, February 15th,
the bookstore is offering everyone
a 15% discount on
all NEW items
in the
bookstore.
I truly appreciate used book donations, but request that
you give any books you wish to donate directly to me so
that I can assess and price them before putting them on
the shelves.
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Fellow Travelers - February 2015
Nirvana Day - February 15
all beings. The disposal of my body can be left to those
who gather to inter me as the King of Kings.”
NIRVANA DAY (Nehan E)
Rahula who had been listening to this exchange began
to weep. “Rahula, there is no need for you to sorrow. You
have shown proper filial piety to me and I have guided
you correctly as a parent. There is no need for sorrow as
we shall meet again in Nirvana.” These were the Buddha’s
parting words to Rahula.
by Mike Shibata
A few days before the Buddha died, as if he recalled
the Pure Land of his earlier sermon, as if he wanted to
make sure that his disciples would not forget, he called
Sariputra to him and said, “Sariputra, in the distance to
the west lies the world of Buddha called the Land of Bliss.
The Buddha of that Land is called Amida Buddha. Amida
Buddha is forever calling to all beings. This Buddha is
called Amida because all who
are born in the Land of Buddha
are as Amida and have Eternal
Life. Therefore, all who hear
Amida Buddha’s Name should
aspire to be born in the Pure
Land.”
Then as the full moon of February 15th began to wane,
the Buddha said, “O Disciples, if none of you have any
questions to ask, may there be
peace and quiet. The time to go
where there is freedom and calm
has come for me.” With these
last words the Buddha quietly
closed his eyes.
Ananda informed the people
the Buddha had passed away.
King Malla of Kusinagara
gave orders to his attendants
to remove the Buddha’s body
to the Royal Mausoleum at
Hokanji where it lay in state
on a funeral pyre of perfumed
wood. The funeral pyre was lit
after Mahakasyapa returned
hurriedly from his missionary
travels.
This sermon is known as the
Amida-Sutra.
When the Buddha arrived at
a sala grove near Ajitavati, he
said, “Ananda, please prepare
a couch with its head to the
north in the shade of the twin
sala trees over there. There I
will enter Nirvana. Therefore,
those who have doubts and
misgivings about the Dharma
should inquire freely now.”
When the cremation ceremony
was over, King Ajatasatru and
other kings requested a share
of the relics. The relics were
divided into eight parts and eight
stupas were erected in each of
those countries to enshrine the
relics. (In 1935, the King of Thailand gave a part of these
relics that had been preserved in Thailand since those
days, to the Buddhist Churches of America. The precious
relics now rest in a specially built stupa atop the Buddhist
Church of San Francisco).
Ananda led the Buddha to the
couch between the sala trees and
asked, “World-honored One,
who shall teach us after you are
gone?”
The Buddha replied solemnly, “Depend not on a teacher
but look to the Dharma. The Dharma I have taught and the
silas (precepts) I have set are your Great Teacher.”
Then Ananda asked, “How shall we conduct your last
rites?”
Our temple celebrates Nirvana Day (Nehan-ye) as the
observance of the death of the historical Shakyamuni
Buddha. at the February 15th service.
The Buddha explained, “Ananda, think only of
preserving the Dharma and of spreading it for the sake of
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Fellow Travelers - February 2015
Longmont Temple Board Updates
are welcome. This will take everyone’s effort to make
these happen.
Annual Meeting Time - February 1
With that said, we will have several major fundraising events planned for this year. Our biggest, most time
consuming and profitable event is going to be the book,
bake and garage sale in June. We will need several people to help organize, set up and work this event. More
details will come later in the year.
by Jackie Tono,
Temple Board President
Winter in Colorado, isn’t it a wonderful thing! It’s
nice to have these short bursts of warm weather during
the winter, it makes the cold, snowier days of winter
more bearable. One really can’t complain about our
winter weather because there is always a small hint of
spring every once in a while during our winter months.
The snow melts and we are blessed with 50 and 60 degree weather. Change is inevitable!
Mike Shibata will conduct a onenju (prayer beads)
class on February 14, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. If you’d
love to learn how to make your own prayer beads come
to this class!!! The cost is $20.00 for members; $25.00
for non-members. Beads will be provided for an additional $10.00 or you buy your own set at a craft store.
Ask Mike for details on the size and number of the
beads needed.
By the time everyone reads this article we will have
held our 2015 general meeting. Last year we focused
our attention to finishing projects at the temple which
had funds allocated to them by generous donations.
This year and the next several years to come we need
to change our focus to fundraising and how to make our
temple more viable. For the last 3-4 years our temple
has been operating on a negative budget and dipping
into our reserve. At this rate we will deplete our reserves within the next 10 years if not sooner. We, as a
board and as a temple need to come up with ideas or
projects that we can all work together on to become
solvent. Maybe we can even have an endowment fund
to help keep our temple growing in order to continue to
teach the Buddha’s dharma. Everyone’s input or ideas
Our March and April board meetings will be the 3rd
Sunday of the month, March 15th and April 19th. In
March, Mike will give us a report from the BCA annual meeting and what great things he learned during
the workshops. April 5th is our Hanamatsuri service so
we’ll change our meeting to April 19th. As always
anyone and everyone is welcome to attend.
In gassho,
Jackie
Jodo ShinShu Rituals
Shin Buddhism Introduction
February 15 - Shin Buddhism Seminar:
March 1 - Shin Buddhist Seminar: A Householder Buddhism
Rituals for Then and Now
Join an interactive seminar after service on Sunday to
review how Shin Buddhism was started and founded for
the average person. Although started in Japan explore
how teachings taugh so long ago are still relevant for
daily life in the United States. Explore how Shinran
shared Buddha’s teachings to address suffering in the
lives of average people. Participate in discussions of
how Shin Buddhist approaches can be used to relieve
us from suffering in our daily lives. Reverend O’Dowd,
M.Div. is a Kaikyoshi minister (an international
messenger of Shin Buddhism). Along with years of
training in Shin Buddhism, she holds certifications
in Mindfulness Instruction and Methods of Japanese
Psychology. For questions or more information, feel
free to call Rev. O’Dowd at 720-244-2299.
by Rev. Carol O'Dowd
Join a review of rituals used in regular and special
services as well as holiday rituals celebrated in Shin
Buddhism. The seminar will explore meaning behind
Buddhist rituals, services and holidays in Shin
Buddhism. Interactive aspect of class will include
introduction to rituals used in Shin Buddhism with some
practice as well as an exploration of how rituals have
changed as they have been used in the United States.
Leave with a ritual or increase awareness of rituals for
daily living. Class starts shortly after the start of the
community hour that follows service. Members are free
and a donation is requested from the general public.
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Fellow Travelers - February 2015
New Hongwanji-ha Monshu
New Monshu: Hongwanji-ha must reach out, adapt to times
Today, according to
my predecessor, Sokunyo
Monshu’s wishes, I was
inaugurated into the posts
of Hongwanji jushoku,
resident priest and Monshu
of the Jodo Shinshu
Hongwanji-ha institution.
On this occasion, I would
like to extend my deep
gratitude to him for his
many years of nurturing
and guidance. At the same
time, I acknowledge the
monumental responsibility
of succeeding the Jodo
Shinshu tradition and
am resolute in carrying
out my duties to the
best of my ability.
nor return to the kind of society
that would compel us to make
painfully bitter decisions again.
In reflecting on the present
circumstances
of
our
organization, it is significantly
important to consider how we
can approach and reach out to
persons who have never had
any contact with a Buddhist
temple, as well as those who
are already involved with
one. The nembutsu teaching
that is based on Amida
Buddha’s Primal Vow remains
unchanged, regardless of the
changing
times and society.
Retiring Monshu Koshin Ohtani and his successor, Shinmon
Kojun Ohtani.
However, the methods for
transmitting and sharing it needs
to evolve and adapt according to social changes. Now is the
time for our Hongwanji institution to utilize our collective
wisdom and knowledge for considering approaches to
convey the Buddha Dharma to our contemporaries today.
The teaching on how we are saved by Amida Tathagata’s
Primal Vow was set forth by Sakyamuni Buddha, and
it was transmitted by the seven Pure Land masters to
Shinran Shonin, who clarified it into the Dharma of
Jodo Shinshu. That tradition has been passed down to us
through the efforts of successive Monshu of Hongwanji,
fellow Jodo Shinshu followers, and many people who
have supported their work until today. In inheriting
this illustrious tradition, I will exert every effort to
convey the Dharma of Jodo Shinshu to the future.
There are also other numerous issues and problems that
we must deal with, such as, “What is the most appropriate
and effective manner we can offer support to the many
victims and disaster-stricken locations of the East
Japan Great Earthquake to facilitate their recovery?”
Let us always keep in mind the venerable words, jishin
kyo ninshin, “secure our own entrusting heart to the
Dharma, guiding others to the same path” as we cope with
the various problems and hardships of the contemporary
world, walking together towards realizing a society in
which everyone is equally respected.
June 6, 2014
Looking back on the past, there were occasions during
which the Hongwanji institution addressed some issues
in ways that contradicted the Jodo Shinshu teaching,
sometimes by not questioning or doubting some common
practices that were accepted in the society during a
certain era, and sometimes by having to make harsh
decisions in order to enable the Hongwanji to survive.
Learning from such history, we must constantly keep a
careful eye on social conditions and ourselves so that
we will never again indiscriminately accept common,
popular behavior and tendencies of a particular time
Shaku Sennyo
OHTANI Kojun
Monshu
Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha
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Fellow Travelers - February 2015
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Fellow Travelers - February 2015
NENJU MAKING CLASS
LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN NENJU (PRAYER BRACELET)
Date: Saturday, February 14, 2015
Time: 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 noon
Instructor: Mike Shibata
Donation to the Temple:
$20.00 for Members
$25.00 for non-members and the public
Beads will be available for $10.00 per nenju, or you can purchase
your own beads (27 beads are needed)
To reserve your spot in the class and to get information on
the type of beads to purchase, please contact Mike via e-mail:
mhshibata28@gmail.com
Please let Mike know if you are bringing your own beads or if you wish to buy beads at the class.
Contact Information
Board Members and Committee Chairpersons
Position: Name
Phone
Board Members
Email Address
President: Jackie Tono
303-517-4622
jjtonto2@gmail.com
Vice President: Meredith Hutmacher
Secretary: Christie Guttridge
Financial Secretary: Ouida Kincaid
Treasurer: Gail Hogsett
970-744-1661
--970-290-2998
303-776-9578
meredith.hut@gmail.com
christie@mesanetworks.net
ouida.kincaid@yahoo.com
gail@waltersandhogsett.com
Committee Chairpersons
Bookstore: Meredith Hutmacher
Building and Maintenance:
Gayle McArthur
Children's Dharma School:
Mike Shibata
Communications:
Newsletter and Website:
Nancy Edmonds
Social Media: Meredith Hutmacher
Community Hour (Toban):
Host Coordinator: Gayle McArthur
Fundraising:
Lending Library: Michele Visser
Membership: Harriet Bissell
Rose Takamoto
Music: Christina Hildebrandt
970-744-1661
----
meredith.hut@gmail.com
gayle@byrnesandco.com
303-359-8341
mhshibata28@gmail.com
303-997-6896
nancy.edmonds@comcast.net
970-744-1661
meredith.hut@gmail.com
--303-776-0649
303-652-2430
970-353-5718
720-284-8710
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gayle@byrnesandco.com
michellerobinvisser@gmail.com
harrietlucinda@yahoo.com
tagover@q.com
soundheals@earthlink.net
Fellow Travelers - February 2015
February Calendar
February 1
Family Service
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Newcomers Welcome
Music and Singing Practice
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Meditation Service & Dharma School
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Family Service
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Toban - POTLUCK
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Temple Annual Meeting
12:00 noon - 1:30 pm
February 8
Mindfulness Class
10:00 am - 11:00 am
February 14
Onenju Class (Please Note: Fee for class - See page 7)
10:00 am - 12 noon
February 15
Nirvana Day Service
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Newcomers Welcome
Music and Singing Practice
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Meditation Service & Dharma School
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Nirvana Day Service
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Toban (Coffee/Tea Hour) in Community Room
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Introduction to Shin Buddhism Class:
12:00 noon - 1:30 pm
A Householder Buddhism
February 22
Mindfulness Class
10:00 am - 11:00 am
UPCOMING MARCH EVENTS
March 1
Eshinni/Kakushinni Service
Introduction to Shin Buddhism Class: Rituals for Then and Now
March 15
Spring Equinox (O-Higan) Service
LBT Board Meeting
LONGMONT BUDDHIST TEMPLE
Northwest Corner - Pike Road and S. Main Street, Longmont, Colorado 80501
Reverend Carol Ganshō O’Dowd (720-244-2299): communitycounselor@outlook.com
Minster’s Assistant: John NyuDō Hughes (303-997-6896); john.hughes@ace-sols.com
Please check web site for latest updates on services, classes and event times.
www.longmontbuddhism.org
Newsletter: Nancy Edmonds (303-997-6896); nancy.edmonds@comcast.net
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